Garden-seeder



H. OSMUNDSON.

' GARDEN SEEDER.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 1: 191s.

Pathted Feb. 10,1920;

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JYEJYRY- 0m! wmsalr UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

HENRY OSMUNDSON', OF SLATER, IOWA, ASSIGNOR T WILLIAM HOWARD OSMTl'NDSON, I

OF PERRY, IOKTA.

GARDEN-SEEDER.

7 Application filed September 1a, 1918. eel-m1 no. 253,867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY OSMUNDSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Slater, Story county, Iowa,

have invented a new anduseful Garden- Seeder, of which the following is a specification. 2

The object of this inventionis to provide an improved construction fora garden drill and seeder.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for rapidly and uniformly planting vegetable and flower seeds.

A further object of this invention is to conserve time, labor and seeds in the planting of vegetable or flower gardens.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for mechanically planting seeds at a uniform depth and evenly spaced.

My'invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my 2 claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which b Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the device in position for practical use.

the seed hopper being removed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device. Fig. 4 is a plan of the seed hopper, the cover being removed, as well as the seed plate and brush.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates a seed hopper, preferably of cylindrical form, closed at its bottom and provided with a removable cover 11. A frame 12 is arranged transversely beneath the hopper 10 and secured thereto as by screws 13/ A tubular drill stem 14 is fixed to the forward side of the frame 12, as by screws 15, and has its upper end 7 contacting with the bottom of the hopper 10 and its lower end projecting below said frame, and said stem preferably is formed obliquely at its lower margin, the point being arranged forwardly. The hopper 10 is formed with a circular hole 16 in its bottom and adjacent its margin, which hole communicates with the interior of the tubular drill stem 14. A handle 17 is suitably attached to the device and projects forwardly therefrom, in this instance being formed with a threaded stem tapped into the forward side of the drill stem 14. The frame 12 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is aplan, .the cover of Patented reniaiozo.

formed with an opening 18, and a vertical shaft 19 is journaled in said frame, crosses said opening'and projects through the bottom of the hopper 10, being arranged axi ally of said hopper. A horizontal shaft 20 .60 v

' ed to fit within thehopper 10, said'pla'te f preferably being dished or concaved 'upwardly in its central portion as shown in Fig. 1. The vertical shaft 19 is formed with a flattenedportion 25 within the hopper adapted to be received within a central 1 slot in the seed plate 24 to cause said plate to turn with the shaft. The seed plate24 is formed with an annular row of holes 26 adjacent its margin, adapted to register successively with the hole 16 leading to the drill stem 14. A tension spring 27 is formed l with a central opening adapted to receive the upper end of the shaft 19, and has its end portions bearing on the upper face of the seed plate 24. The vertical shaft 19" is formed with a reduced threaded portion 28 at its upper end, and a wing nut 29 is adapted to be screwed thereon to hold the spring 27 in place, and also to provide means for adjusting the tension of said spring. It is the function of the spring 27 and nut 29 to hold the seed plate 24 in position, removably and replaceably, the tension being suflicient to prevent the entrance of seeds from the hopper beneath said plate yet permitting said plate to turn readily in use. A brush 30, preferably of stiff wires, is fixed at its upper end to a post 31 carriedby the upper marginal portion of the hopper 10 and projects downwardly and forwardly from said post toward the bottom of the hopper. When the parts are assembled the lower port-ion of the brush contacts with f the upper face of the seed plate 24 adjacent the annular row of holes 26, and just in front of the exit hole 16 in the bottom of v the hopper. In practical use the partsare arranged as shown and described and seed to be planted, such as small vegetable or flower seed, is

gear 22'is fixed to the hori- 65- '1 placed in the hopper 10,upon the seed plate 24, and the cover 11 placed in posltion to prevent'spi-lling of the seed. The device is designed to be used in connectionwith a straight edge such as a board 32 laidupon the ground to indicate by one long mar 'gin the position of the row or drill to be planted. The operator grasps the handle '17 and places the device in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, relative to the board 32,

theedrill stenrl beingin contact with one; long margin of theiboardj and the-toothed: Wheel 21 contacting the upper face of. said board. The. devicev is thendrawn toward the; operator, sufficient pressure being exerted through thehandle 17 to cause. the wheel 21, to revolve. because of contact with the- I board, thus'causinga rotation of the shaft 20,. b.evel gear 22, bevel. gear 28, vertical. shaft.19, and seed. plate Qin the direction;

, of the arrow in Fig. 2. As the seed plate being... determined by the thickness of the" 24.,isso. rotated and; the holes 26itherein brought successively. into register with theopening 16 in the 1 bottom of the hopper, seedon said platearepermitted to. fall into the. tubular drill stemle, such action being.

assistedby the ,brush 30.. Asthe deviceis drawn along the drill stem 14. enters the earthaand. formsatrench or drill to receive the seed, the;depthofsaidtrench or drill board used and theamount ofproj ection of said stern beneath .the board. In this 1113-11- nerQseedwithinv the hopper are deposited regularly. irrthe earth, the trench or drill being formed ofuniform depth and the seed being, deposited. in equal spacingin said trenchas the device is drawn along. In

practice: it, is found convenient to incline the endiof the handle 17 upwardly slightly. A plurality-.ofseed plates 24 may be providedland may vary in spacing and chance terof'the holes 26 .to accommodate seeds of different; sizes.

Alglazedkwindow 33- may be providedin the; cover :11. so that:the operator. may perceive the amount and condition of seed in tl'iBa-HOPPGIY, without removing the cover.

The. device has been found to beof. con:

siderableadvantage in conserving time and;

labor in the planting of. small seeds, and also 1n .saving seed'as they are not deposited 1n p 1les .as.--is aptto be the. case whereplantedbyhand.

IFI.c1aim..as-.iny invention:-

, In; a device of thecharacter described,-

a seed hopper having. a. discharge; opening, through thebottomthereof, .a plate revolubly supported upon. the bottom v of. the

seed hopper,- and having, a hole therein arrangedftov receive seed contained 1n the hopper anddischarge the seed through'said opening through the, bottom of the hopper,

a. frame: upon which the hopper is support-- ed, a :vertical shaft supported by the frame and extending through thebottom of the e.

hopper, a resilient element on said shaft engaglng said plate at different points of conthrough the bottom.thereof, a plate, revolubly. supported upon the bottom. oflthe. seed hopper and having an annulari'series ofholestherein arranged to receive seedcontained inithe hopper. and successively, dis-.- charge the. seed. through. 'said opening; through the bottom of the hopper, a verti-.--

calshaft supportediby the. frameandwextending through: the bottom of the hopp er. for rotating said .plateto, move said holes.

successively. across: the. discharge opening 80. a frame, a seed hopper. supported thy said; frame and'havlng a discharge open-mg,

through the. bottom ofthe hopper, .a spr1n,g v

pressing; said plate. against the. bottom,

springagainst said plate, apinionattached to said shaftbelowthehopper, a horizontal shaft journaled. in said framearranged to be rotated as an. incident: to movement of .95 means for varying the pressurev of; said the device, and a piniononsaid horizontal shaft meshing with :thepinion on the vertical shaft whereby .the vertical shaft. will be. rotatedbythe horizontal shaft.

3. In a. device. of.the character, described, a frame, v aseed. hopper; mounted. on.- the frame, and, having. a... discharge opening.

through thebottonrthereof, a plate revolue bly, supported uporr the bottom .of theseed hopper, andhaving anannular'series of holes therein arranged to receive seedcon-tained. inthehopperand dlscharge the seed successively through said opening through. the

bottom. of. the hopper, a spring, pressmg upon said plate, device for varyingthe pressure of, said. spring against said plate,- a verticalshaft supported rby-the frame and: V extending through the bottom ofthehopp-er. for rotating saidiplate, .a pinion attached to. said I. shaft .:below the. hopper, a horizontat shaft journaled in said framecarrangedtobe;

rotated ..as. an;: incidentrto .movement of. the

device, and :apinionon said horizontal shaft;

meshing. with thespinion. on; the. vertical shaft whereby the. vertical shaft will, be ros tated ,by the ihorizontal shaft..

4.111 a device of 'theicharacter described,- a frame, a seed hopper supported iby the. frame.- havinga discharge opening through the bot tom thereof, a plate revolubly supported upon the bottom of the hopper and having an annular series of holes therein arranged to receive seed contained in the hopper and successively discharge the seed through said opening through the bottom of the hopper, a vertical shaft supported by the frame and extending through the bottom of the hopper for rotating said plate, a spring pressing on said plate at opposite sides of said vertical shaft, a device for varying the pressure of said spring upon said plate, a pinion attached to the vertical shaft below the hopper, a horizontal shaft journaled in said frame, a pinion on the horizontal shaft meshing with the pinion on the vertical shaft, and means for rotating the horizontal shaft and thereby said vertical shaft and said plate as an incident to movement of the device.

5. In a device of the character described, a frame, a seed hopper mounted on the frame and having a discharge opening through the bottom thereof, a plate revolubly supported upon the bottom of the seed hopper and having an annular series of holes therethrough arranged to receive seed and discharge the seed successively through said opening through the bottom of the hopper, a vertical shaft supported by the frame and extending through the bottom of the hopper for rotating said plate, a spring plate attached to said vertical shaft and having its ends bearing upon and pressing said plate against the bottom of the hopper, a device on said vertical shaft for varying the pressure of said spring upon said plate, a pinion attached to said shaft below the hopper, a horizontal shaft journaled in said frame, and a pinion on said horizontal-shaft meshing with the pinion on the vertical shaft.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame, a seed hopper mounted on the frame and having a discharge opening through the bottom thereof, a plate revolubly supported upon the bottom-of the seed hopper and having anannular series of .through the bottom of the hopper,

holes therethrough arranged to receive seed and discharge the seed successively through the opening through the bottom of the hopper, a vertical shaft supported by the frame for rotating said plate to register the holes the pressure of said spring upon said plate,

' a brush supported in the hopper adjacent to the opening for causing the discharge of seed through saidlopenmg, a pinion on said vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft journaled in said frame and arranged to be rotated as an incident to movement of the device, and a pinion on said horizontal shaft meshing with the pinion on the vertical shaft.

7. In a device of the character described, a seed hopper having a discharge opening through the bottom thereof, a plate revolubly supported upon the bottom of the seed hopper andhaving a hole therein to receive seed contained in the hopper and to discharge the seed through said opening through the bottom of the hopper, a frame upon which the hopper is supported, a vertical shaft supported by the frame and extending through the bottom of the hopper, a device connected with said vertical shaft for varying the pressure of said plate upon the bottom of the hopper, a pinion attached to said shaft below the hopper, a horizontal shaft journaled in said frame, a pinion on said horizontal shaft meshing with the pinion on the vertical shaft wherebythe vertical shaft and said plate will be rotated from the horizontal shaft, and means for rotating said horizontal shaft as an incident to movement of the device in planting operations.

Signed at Slater, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, this 25th day of June, 1918'.

H. OSMUNDSON. 

